Miniaturized system and method for measuring optical characteristics

Abstract

A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for determining optical properties of a dental object, comprising:
 a probe tip including a plurality of light source/light receiver pairs; 
 a spectrometer assembly receiving light from the plurality of light source/light receiver pairs, wherein the spectrometer assembly generates data of a first average optical depth based on light received by a first light source/light receiver pair and generates data of a second average optical depth based on light received by a second light source/light receiver pair, wherein the second average optical depth is different from the first average optical depth; 
 a body integral with the probe tip and encompassing the spectrometer assembly and adapted for positioning in a hand of an operator, wherein the hand of the operator substantially encompasses a bulk portion of the spectrometer assembly; 
 wherein the probe tip is positioned in proximity to the dental object, wherein data generated by the spectrometer assembly is processed and optical properties of the dental object are determined based on the data generated by the spectrometer assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first light source/light receiver pair comprises a plurality of light sources and a single light receiver. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second light source/light receiver pair comprises a plurality of light sources and a single light receiver. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more light source/light receiver pair is configured so that one or more light receivers do not propagate light that is specularly reflected from a surface of the dental object. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a processor determines optical properties of the dental object based on applying first and second factors to the data generated of the first and second average optical depths, respectively. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second factors vary depending upon a type of the dental object. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first shade prediction algorithm predicts a shade of a natural tooth based on a first combination of the first and second factors, and wherein a second shade prediction algorithm predicts a shade of a restorative tooth material based on a second combination of the first and second factors. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the operator informs the system by user input whether the dental object is a natural tooth or a restorative tooth material. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system predicts whether the dental object is a natural tooth or a restorative tooth material. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operator confirms or over-rides the prediction of the system. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a calibration standard, wherein the optical properties of the dental object are determined in part based on a single measurement of the calibration standard, wherein the system measures a natural tooth in a first operation and a restorative tooth material in a second operation, wherein the first and second operations are based on the single measurement of the calibration standard. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a portion proximate to the probe tip, wherein a measurement of the dental object is initiated by activation of a switch in the portion proximate to the probe tip. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the body and switch are adapted for activation by an index finger of the operator. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a switch on a underside portion of the body, wherein a measurement of the dental object is initiated by activation of the switch via a finger of the operator not including an index finger of the operator. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a wireless transceiver within the body transmits data wirelessly to an external electronic apparatus. 
     
     
       16. A system for determining optical properties of a dental object, comprising:
 a probe tip including a plurality of light source/light receiver pairs; 
 a spectrometer assembly receiving light from the plurality of light source/light receiver pairs, wherein the spectrometer assembly generates data via a first light source/light receiver pair of a first sensitivity based on a thickness of a material of the dental object and generates data via a second light source/light receiver pair of a second sensitivity based on a thickness of a material of the dental object, wherein the second sensitivity is different from the first sensitivity; 
 a body integral with the probe tip and encompassing the spectrometer assembly and adapted for positioning in a hand of an operator, wherein a hand of an operator substantially encompasses a bulk portion of the spectrometer assembly; 
 wherein the probe tip is positioned in proximity to the dental object, wherein data generated by the spectrometer assembly is processed and optical properties of the dental object are determined based on the data generated by the spectrometer assembly. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first light source/light receiver pair comprises a plurality of light sources and a single light receiver. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second light source/light receiver pair comprises a plurality of light sources and a single light receiver. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein one or more light source/light receiver pair is configured so that one or more light receivers do not propagate light that is specularly reflected from a surface of the dental object. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein a processor determines optical properties of the dental object based on applying first and second factors to the data generated of the first and second sensitivities, respectively. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second factors vary depending upon a type of the dental object. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20 , wherein a first shade prediction algorithm predicts a shade of a natural tooth based on a first combination of the first and second factors, and wherein a second shade prediction algorithm predicts a shade of a restorative tooth material based on a second combination of the first and second factors. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the operator informs the system by user input whether the dental object is a natural tooth or a restorative tooth material. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the system predicts whether the dental object is a natural tooth or a restorative tooth material. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the operator confirms or over-rides the prediction of the system. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a calibration standard, wherein the optical properties of the dental object are determined in part based on a single measurement of the calibration standard, wherein the system measures a natural tooth in a first operation and a restorative tooth material in a second operation, wherein the first and second operations are based on the single measurement of the calibration standard. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the body includes a portion proximate to the probe tip, wherein a measurement of the dental object is initiated by activation of a switch in the portion proximate to the probe tip. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the body and switch are adapted for activation by an index finger of the operator. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the body includes a switch on a underside portion of the body, wherein a measurement of the dental object is initiated by activation of the switch via a finger of the operator not including an index finger of the operator. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 16 , wherein a wireless transceiver within the body transmits data wirelessly to an external electronic apparatus. 
     
     
       31. A system for determining optical properties of a dental object, the system including a probe tip having one or more light sources and one or more light receivers, wherein the probe tip is positioned in proximity to the dental object, wherein the probe tip is encompassed by a removable barrier, wherein the barrier has a first, inner surface positioned adjacent the probe tip that has surface characteristics to facilitate insertion of the probe tip into the barrier, wherein the barrier has a second, outer surface that comes into contact with the dental object and that has surface characteristics to resist sliding of the probe tip with respect to the dental object when the outer surface is in contact with the dental object, wherein the barrier has a feature adapted to hold the barrier to the system as to stretch the barrier over the probe tip, wherein light from the one or more light sources is returned from the dental object through the barrier to the one or more light receivers, wherein light received by the one or more light receivers is measured by one or more spectral measurement systems each measuring light in a plurality of spectral bands, wherein optical properties of the dental object are determined, wherein the one or more light sources and the one or more light receivers are configured so that at least one of the light receivers does not propagate light that is specularly reflected from a surface of the dental object. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 31 , wherein at least one calibration measurement of a reference of known optical properties is taken, wherein optical effects of the barrier are compensated by the calibration measurement.